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Fighting erupted between Muslim and Christian protesters at Baptist High School in the town of Ilorin, western Nigeria, over whether Muslim female students should be allowed to wear headgear.
Both sides reported injuries after throwing stones and plastic chairs at each other during Wednesday morning’s protest, preventing the school from reopening which was forced to close last month. – along with nine others – due to a growing dispute over headgear worn by Muslim Girls for religious reasons.
Police also fired tear gas after Muslim protesters tried to knock down the school sign.
The government of Kwara State – headquartered in Ilorin, the state capital – ordered the reopening of 10 schools at the center of the conflict.
The schools were started by Christian missionaries many years ago, but the government says it controls them.
This has led to legal battles, with the High Court and Court of Appeal ruling in favor of the government, but a Christian group is now challenging the ruling in the Supreme Court.
Schools closed about three weeks ago after tensions erupted over the release of a video of Muslim girls apparently banned from entering one of the schools because they were wearing what is known as here a hijab – a fabric that covers the head and goes down. to the shoulders.
In two other schools I visited, Christians demonstrated peacefully, singing and holding signs to show their opposition to headgear and government control.
Both schools reopened, but students with headgear were not allowed in.
Only one of the 10 schools allowed Muslims to enter with headgear.
Battle lines appear to be drawn as Kwara Baptist conference leader insists they “will defend their faith and property as long as the Kwara state government refuses to obey the rule of law “.
“We won’t allow hijabs in our schools, it’s that simple. It is a school of Christian mission, ”he added.
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